Air-conditioner cover



Oct. 31, 1961 A. B. THIEDE ETAL AIR-CONDITIONER COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. 15, 1959 INVENTORS. Alfi'kr 3. 719/595 BYMMM W Oct. 31, 1961A. B. THIEDE ETAL AIR-CONDITIONER COVER Filed Jan. 15, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. 4135:?7 51 7/9/504 DAV/0 C. GAFVFfI' WMJM Uified Sm P t t Filed Jan. 15, 1959 Ser. No. 787,008 3 Claims. (Cl.22036) The present invention relates to a cover for an air conditionerand is concerned primarily with a cover designed to afford adequateprotection for the air conditioner during periods of nonuse, but whichmay be readily operated or shifted into an open position during thoseperiods when the air conditioner is in use.

At the present time, the conventional air-conditioner unit that isinstalled in a window or similar opening has a large extent whichprojects exteriorly of the building. This outwardly extending portionincludes an end wall and side walls that are ordinarily formed withlouvers or vents through which air is admitted into the air conditiOneI.

An air conditioner is, of course, used only during the warmer seasons;yet, as a practical matter they remain in stalled the entire yeararound. Thus during the periods of nonuse there is no protection for theoutwardly projecting portion, and there is danger of dirt, rain, sleet,or other foreign matter entering into the air ports.

With the foregoing conditions in mind, the present invention has in viewas its foremost objective the provision of a cover for an airconditioner which consists essentially of a skeleton framework designedto be fitted over the projecting part of the conditioner and whichframework has a top wall, an open bottom, an open outer-"end wall, andopen sides. Means for anchoring the cover in position preferably takesthe form of an upwardly extending flange mounted on the inner edge ofthe top wall which engages the window sash, which has been partiallyopened to accommodate the air condit'ioner'.

An important object of the invention is to provide an air-conditionercover of the character aforesaid with movable protective panels for theouter-end wall and side walls, together with operating mechanismaccessible from the interior which may be operated to move the panelsinto or out of open position as occasion demands.

A somewhat more detailed object of the invention is to provide a commonoperating member for all of the movable panels whereby they all may beopened or closed by a single operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in an air conditionercover of the type indicated, protective panels for the end and sidewalls each of which is piyotally mounted at the opposite ends of its topedge, with the operating member taking the form of a star wheel that ispivotally mounted in a horizontal plane beneath the top of thecover.This star wheel presents four arms. Three of these arms are connected bypush rods to the three pivotally mounted panels below the axis of thepivotal mounting thereof, while a link is connected to the fourth armand extends inwardly through an opening in the flange aforesaid, withthe inner end thereof terminating in a grip. It is evident that byexerting a pull on the link the star Wheel is rotated to cause the otherarms to exert a thrust on the push rods to move the panels into openposition.

Another detailed yet important object of the invention is to provide thelink and flange aforesaid with cooperating elements of a disengageabledetent. Thus, after the link has been pulled inwardly to open thepanels,.the dete'nt is engaged to maintain the open position. However,iipo'n releasing the detent and relieving the force on the link, thepanels will fall down into closed position.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention,such as arise in connection with carrying out the above-noted ideas in apractical embodiment, will in part become apparent and in part behereinafter statedas the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention therefore comprises an air-conditioner cover consistingessentially of a framework designed to encompass the projecting partofan air conditioner and which framework includes atop wall having ananchoring' flange on its inner edge and movable panels constituting theend and side walls of the cover, together with a common operating memberaccessible from the interior to move the panels into or out of openposition.

For a full and more complete understanding. of the invention, referencemay be had to the following description and accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an air-conditioner cover designed inaccordance with the precepts of this invention and depicting the panelsin closed position;

FIGURE 2 is another perspective similar to FIGURE 1, illustrating thecover with the panels opened;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective looking at the rear or inner end of the cover;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section taken on an enlarged scale just beneaththe top, and is taken about on the plane represented by the line 4-4 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section taken about on the plane represented bythe line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, but depicting the position ofthe parts with the panels opened;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary section similar to FIG- URE 5, with the endpanel in opened position;

FIGURE 8 is a detailed vertical section at one corner, depicting thepivotal mounting that is common to all the panels, and is taken about onthe plane represented by the line 88 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 is another detailed section, taken about on the planesrepresented by the lines 99 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 10 is a detail of the operating link.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts, the air-conditioner cover of this invention isillustrated in closed position in FIGURES 1 and 3, and is referred to inits entirety by the reference character C.

The cover C comprises a fixed framework made up of a top wall 10 andfrom which depends structure defining an open frame for the outer-endwall and the side walls. Thus, four columns, designated 11, 12, 13, and14, each has its upper end permanently secured to the top wall 10 in anypreferred manner, such as by welding or soldering. Each of these columns11-14, inclusive, is hollow and of angular formation.

The construction of one of the columns 1114, inclu sive, is more clearlyshown in FIGURE 9, wherein the column 13 is shown as comprising outerfaceplates 15 and '16 arranged normal to one another and integrallyjoined at a corner 17. An end wall 18 is arranged normal to thefaceplate 15 and is integrally joined thereto at the corner 19. Anotherend wall 20 is arranged normal to the face 16 and is integrally joinedthereto at the corner 21. Inner faceplates 22 and 23 are arranged normalto one another and are integrally joined at a corner 24. The faceplate22 is joined to the end Wall 20 at the inner edge of the latter, as :bywelding, along the line 25, and projects or extends beyond this line ofjoinder, the projecting portion being indicated at 26. Likewise, theinner faceplace 23 is joined to the inner edge of the end wall 18 alongthe line indicated at 27, and includes a portion 28 which projectsinwardly therebeyond.

It will be understood that this basic construction described above indetail in connection with the pillar 13 is repeated in each the pillars1 1, 12, 13, and 14. In the construction illustrated, the end Walls 20of the pillars 12 and 13 are in confronting relation, and closelyadjacent to their top ends are formed with openings 29 which are inalignment and which constitute bearings for pivots to be laterdescribed. So far as the pillars '13 and 14 are concerned, the end walls18 of these pillars are arranged in confronting relation and are formedwith pivot-bearing openings comparable to the openings 29. This is alsotrue of the piilars 11 and 12.

Upon referring more particularly to FIGURE 3, it will be noted that thepillars 11.-and 14 are connected at their lower ends by an angle member30 which presents a flange 31 that is designed to fit over the sill of awindow in which the air'con'ditioner to be protected is mounted.Moreover, the top 10, which is preferably made of sheet metal, is formedwith a double-thickness flange at 32 which projects above the inner edgeand constitutes an anchoring flange. Thus the [flanges 31 and 3-2cooperate in securing the cover C in position about an air conditioner,such as depicted in phantom outline in FIGURES 5 and 7, anddesignated A.In order to install the air conditioner A, it is essential that thewindow sash be raised from the sili. Thus, with the flange 31 engagingthe sill and the flange 32 the sash, and the remaining framework fittedover the air conditioner A, it is evident that the cover is securelyheld in position.

A protective panel for the outer-end wall is designated P, andprotective panels for the two side walls are designated P1 and P2. Thepanels P1 and P2 are substantial duplicates, while the panel P issomewhat longer than the side panels in that it is designed toaccommodate the end wall, which is longer than the side wall.

The panel P is pivotally mounted within a frame defined by the outer-endedge of the top 10, pillars 12 and 13, and a bottom crosspiece 33. Thepanel P1 is pivotally mounted in a frame defined by a side edge of thetop 10, pillars 11 and 12, and a bottom end piece 34. The panel P2 ismounted in a frame defined by the other side edge of the top 10, pillars13 and 14, and a bottom end piece 35.

Each of the panels P, P1, and P2 may be of any con- Operation It isevident that the cover C may be permanently positioned over that portionof the air conditioner A which projects outwardly of the building at awindow,

with the flanges 3'1 and 32 anchoring the cover in position.

Assuming that the cover is in the closed position depicted in FIGURE 1and it is desirable to open the panels P, P1, and P2, the operatorgrasps the handle 62 and exerts a pull on the link 58. This causes thestar wheel S to rotate in a clockwise direction (speaking with referenceto the showing of FIGURES 4 and 6). This movement of the star wheelcauses each of the arms 45, 46, and 47 to exert a thrust on the pushrods 49 52, and 55. This outward thrust is transmitted to the panels 'P,P1, and P2 below the axes of their pivotal mountings as determined bythe pins 29. Thus, the panels are moved outwardly into the openedposition depicted in FIGURE 2. When this opened position has beenachieved, the link 58 is laterally moved to cause the notch 61 to engagean edge of the opening 60 to establish a detent holding the panelsopened.

JWhen it is desired to restore the panels to closed position, all thatis necessary is to disengage the notch-61 from the edge of the opening60 and relieve any stress or pull from the link 58. The weight of thepanels P will now cause them to swing downwardly into closed position.If desired, -a final-push may be exerted on the link 58 to insure that acompletely closed position is struction providing the desired protectiveeffects. In a preferred embodiment, each is shown as comprising fourframe members; namely, a top frame member 36, a bottom frame member 37,and side frame members 38 and 39. These members are joined at miteredcorners in a well-known manner, such as illustrated at 40. The frameestablished. If desired, the link 58 may be provided with a second notchcomparable to that shown in 61 for the closed position.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbeforeset forth, it is to be clearly under stood that the invention is not tobe limited to the exact constructions, mechanisms, and devicesillustrated and described, because various modifications of thesedetails may be provided in putting the invention into practice a withinthe purview of the appended claims.

members carry a sheet 41 of any protective material such as Fiberglas,fiberboard, mesh, or just about any material which will afford thedesired protective effects.

The top frame member 36 of each of the panels P, P1, and P2 carries onits upper edge a bracket 42 which includes as an integral part anoutwardly extending pivot pin 43. Each of these pivot pins 43 isreceived in one of the pivot-bearing openings 29 to pivotally mount therespective panels in a suspended position.

A star wheel is illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 6 and is referred to in itsentirety by the reference character S. The star wheel S is pivotallymounted on the underside of the top 10 by a pivot pin 44. The star wheelS includes four arms 45, 46, 47, and 48. A link 49 has one end pivotallyconnected to the outer end of the arm 45, as indicated at 50; and itsother end is pivotally connected to a tab 51 that is secured to the topframemember 36 on the panel P1 below the pivotal axis as defined bythepins43.

Likewise, another push rod 52 has one end pivotally connected to theouter end of the arm 46, as indicated at-53, and its other end pivotallyconnected to a tab 54 that is secured to the top frame member 36 on thepanel P. Still another thrust rod 55 has one end pivotally attached tothe outer end of the arm 47 as indicated at 56, and its other endpivotally connected to a tab 57 that is mounted on the top frame member36 of the panel P2.

What is claimed is:

1. In an air-conditioner cover, a fixed framework comprising a top wall,an end frame, and side frames depending from said top wall; a protectivepanel pivotally mounted on each of said frames at its top edge, a starwheel pivotally mounted on the underside of said top wall and includingfour arms, a thrust rod connecting each of said panels to one of saidarms below the axis of the pivotal mounting of that panel, a linkconnected.

7 to the other of said-arms and extending inwardly of said fixedframework to an accessible position, and cooperating elements of adetachable detent on said link and fixed framework.

2. In an air-conditioner cover, a fixed framework com-J prising a topwall, an end frame, and side frames depending from said top wall; ananchoring flange on the edge of said top wall remote from said endframe, a second anchoring flange connecting the lower inner ends of saidend frames, a protective panel pivotally mounted in each of said framesat its upper edge, a star wheel pivotallymounted on the underside ofsaid top wall and including four arms, a push rod connecting each ofsaid panels to one arm of said star wheel at a point below the axis ofthe pivotal mounting of that panel, a link having one 'end connected tothe other of said arms, passing through an opening in the first saidanchoring flange and formed with a handle at its free end, 7

3. In an air-conditioner cover, a fixed framework comprising a top Wallor" rectangular formation, a pillar depending from each corner of saidtop Wall, each pillar being of a hollow angular construction providingend walls with each of said end walls being formed with a bearingopening adjacent to its upper end, bottom members connecting the lowerends of said pillars to provide an end frame and side frames, aprotective panel in each of said frames, each of said panels having abracket at each upper corner including a pivot pin received in one ofsaid bearing openings, a star wheel pivotally mounted on the undersideof said top wall and including four arms, a push rod connecting each ofsaid panels to one of said arms below the axis of the pivotal mountingof that panel as defined by said pivot pins, and an operating linkconnected to the other of said arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

